Johnie Bye Night and trainer Charlton Baker continued their domination of the George W. Barker Memorial Handicap at Finger Lakes.
The 6-year-old gelding Johnie Bye Night ($4.70) won the six-furlong Barker for New York-breds for the third straight year, giving Baker his fifth consecutive victory in the stakes.
Jockey Jose Lezcano swept both stakes on the holiday card at Monmouth Park, coming from far back aboard Social Queen ($16.40) to nail Medley at the wire of the $70,000 Politely on turf and urging Heckuva Good Time ($9) to run down pacesetter Pure Disco in the $60,000 Open Mind Handicap on the main track.
Graeme Six took command nearing the eighth pole and powered away to a 1 1/2-length victory in the fifth running of the $107,600 Winning Colors Stakes at Churchill Downs.
With Julien Leparoux riding for trainer Tom Amoss, Graeme Six returned $7 as second choice after finishing the six-furlong race in 1:09.17 over a fast track. Miss Macy Sue, the 7-5 favorite in a field of six fillies and mares, rallied late to be second, a head in front of Change Up, who set the pace to midstretch.
Indescribable has run well on the Tapeta surface at Presque Isle and the Polytrack at Keeneland, and she apparently relishes training on the synthetic surface back home at the Fair Hill training center. On a warm Memorial Day afternoon at Arlington, Indescribable conquered still another artificial track, winning the Grade 3, $150,000 Arlington Matron by a half-length over a game Leah's Secret.
Indescribable now has won 3 of 6 synthetic-track starts, with her only out-of-the-money finish a fifth to the awesome Zenyatta in the El Encino last January.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Rahy's Attorney had a productive campaign here last year, winning five races and $307,365 while competing almost exclusively in Ontario-sired company.
But Ian Black, who trains Rahy's Attorney for a group headed by breeders Ellie and Joe MacLellan, realized the going would be tougher for the 4-year-old gelding this season.
"He's been best on turf and if you looked at the stakes schedule the Bunty Lawless was the first Ontario-sired turf stakes for him at a mile or better, and it's not until October," Black said.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - A tough trip cost Precious Kitten dearly when she finished fifth in the Grade 2 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland last month. A perfect trip in Monday's $283,000 Gamely Stakes at Hollywood Park gave the star 5-year-old mare her first win of 2008.
Diamond Diva took a commanding lead shortly after the start in the field of five fillies and mares, allowing jockey Rafael Bejarano to guide Precious Kitten into second, stalking the leader.
Liepers Fork ($6.80) defended his title in the $50,000 William Henry Harrison Stakes with a strong two-length win over former winners Indy Energy and Honor Pursuit on Saturday night at Indiana Downs.
The Harrison was run for the sixth time and the trio represented the entire list of winners in this stakes. Liepers Fork also won the race in 2004 and 2007. Indy Energy won the inaugural running in 2003 and again in 2006 while Honor Pursuit was the 2005 champion.
BOSSIER CITY, La - Overcoming traffic trouble late on the turn, Lone Star Special won his turf debut in Saturday's $50,000 Incredible Ease at Louisiana Downs, one of four turf stakes on the card.
The favored Mr Bubba finished second by 1 1/4 lengths, followed by Friday Meeting.
Money Card ($3.80) rallied along the rail into the stretch, then held off the late charge of Goodys Summer to post a neck decision in the $62,000 Dr. T.F. Classen Memoral Stakes for Ohio-bred fillies and mares on Saturday at Thistledown.
It was 1 1/4 lengths farther back to Sybles Angel in the field of seven sprinters.
Money Card, a 5-year-old daughter of Left Banker, is owned by the Drake Racing Stable and trained by Shirley Girten-Drake. She was ridden by Jane Magrell and got the six furlongs in 1:12.35.
Missmekissme ($10.20) won her third race in a row and first stakes when she circled the field and drew away by 3 1/2 lengths in Saturday's $60,866 Bob Bryant Stakes for 3-year-old Iowa-bred fillies at Prairie Meadows.
After settling nicely for Richard Monterrey, Missmekissme began to make her move as the front-runners approached the turn of the six-furlong race. By the time they turned for home, Missmekissme had taken over from the race favorite Judy Faye, who held on to finish second, and pulled away in the stretch to win while covering the distance in 1:10.64.
